Slain toddler's mother smoked cannabis the day her daughter disappeared

Daniella White, Sunraysia Daily

The mother of toddler Nikki Francis-Coslovich has told a court she was on the verge of leaving her daughter's alleged killer, John Torney, the day before she died.

Peta-Ann Francis, 28, appeared before a committal hearing at Mildura Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to give evidence about the death of her daughter who was found dead in the roof cavity of an Oram Court home on August 25.

The court heard Torney referred to Ms Francis, with whom he was in a de facto relationship, and her four daughters as his "five little angels" and that Ms Francis told police it was an "awesome relationship".

Ms Francis admitted she never saw Torney swear at the girls or assault them and their relationship was much more positive than her previous one with her children's father.

But she said the relationship was soured by Torney's constant jealousy and drinking.

"I punched a brick wall because I got accused of sleeping with anyone and everybody," she said.

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"I don't take it out on my kids, they don't deserve it, they're children.

"I was ready to leave that Monday ... because of all the s--- I was putting up with.

"Not just the jealousy ... him drinking."

Ms Francis admitted smoking cannabis with Torney the day of Nikki's death, which she used to help her deal with post-natal depression, and leaving her toddler with Torney while she picked up the drugs.

She said she usually only smoked when her children had been put to bed, but she was "anxious" on the day of Nikki's death.

She told the court she had never touched ice or other drugs.

The court heard Nikki didn't attend day care in the two weeks before her death.

Ms Francis said Nikki had sustained a large bruise in a fall in the bath and she was worried staff would contact child protection, but she denied ever hitting her children.

In cross-examination, barrister for Torney Julie Condon put it to Ms Francis that she had lied to police about the events of the day.

Ms Francis admitted she didn't tell the complete truth to police initially, but denied she lied.

"You start to remember things when you're not under pressure," she said.

Torney's mother Belinda Torney told the hearing Ms Francis was acting strangely and "off with the fairies" on the day of Nikki's disappearance.

"I found her so different on that day," Ms Torney said.

Ms Torney said when Ms Francis realised Nikki was missing, she and her son urged Ms Francis, who had gone to collect her other children, to call the police.

"She just didn't listen to me," Ms Torney said.

"(I said) get off the f------ phone, you need to ring the police, your daughter is missing."

Ms Torney said Ms Francis pleaded with the police not to open her bedroom door when they later searched the house for Nikki.

"I was disgusted and I walked out," she said.

"It wasn't the Peta I knew.

"I had seen her stoned before but this looked different."

Ms Torney told the court before Ms Francis met her son she would often see Nikki running down the street in just a nappy.

She said she would yell at her to get her baby because she was worried about Nikki being out on the street.